Temple blocks are a type of percussion instrument consisting of a set of woodblocks. It is descended from the muyu or wooden bell, an instrument originating from eastern Asia, where it is commonly used in religious ceremonies.[1][2]
Description
It is a carved hollow wooden instrument with a large slit. In its traditional form, the muyu, the shape is somewhat bulbous like a bell, but modern instruments are often rectangular in shape.[3] They are generally played in sets of four or more to give a variety of pitches, in which they are also known as "tone blocks".[4] In Western music, they can be traced back to early jazz drummers where they were used as exotic instruments before being later adopted into widespread orchestral use.[5] An updated version of the instrument made by Latin Percussion, known as "granite blocks", is made out of plastic rather than wood.[6]
The sound of temple blocks is similar to that of normal woodblocks, although temple blocks have a darker, more "hollow" timbre.[7] In their most common configuration of five, temple blocks are typically tuned to a pentatonic scale. Chromatic and diatonic sets have also been made.[8] Despite this, they are not commonly treated as pitched percussion.[9]
↑Cirone, Anthony J.; Grover, Neil; Whaley, Garwood (2006). The Art of Percussion Playing (1sted.). Meredith Music. p.88. ISBN1-57463-047-4. OCLC70782197.
↑Holland, James (2005). Practical Percussion: A Guide to the Instruments and Their Sources (Rev.ed.). Scarecrow Press. p.50. ISBN978-1-4616-7063-6. OCLC681550519.
